Peters



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

.I. J. STASSEN VBLOGIPEDE.

o. 284,509.` Patented Sept. 4, 1883;

WITNESSES: v INVENTOR a. MM A BY r ATTORNEY Tina mln-uxwgnwr. washingnm u. c

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

.Iosnrna sTAssEN, or nusron'nonnronnon, ENGLAND;

VELQCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming `part of Letters Patent No. 284,509,`da.ted September 4, 1883. Application led March 12, 1883. (No model.) Patented in England August 2l, 1882, '.Noflgf.`

To all whom `it `may concern: 1

Be it known that I,Josnrrr J oHN Srnssnn, of Euston Road, London, England, velocipede manufacturer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes, (for which I have `obtained Letters Patentin Great Britain, bearing date August 2l, 1882, No. 4, 006,) of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to, that class of .velocipedes knownas frontsteering tricycles, 7 andhas for its object to construct'thesame in such a manner that the frame-work of the 'same can be quickly reduced in width, so as to allow the velocipede to pass readily through doors and` take up less space in being stored away; and the invention consists of a tubular telescoping frame-work, of atubulartelescoping driving-shaft,` and-of means for settingthe tubes and shaftlto any required width. The tubular frame4 is provided with forward-en; tending tubes for supporting the pedals and the steering-wheel.` The hollow telescoping driving-shaft is provided with a central bal'- ance-gear that isoperated by chain and sprocket wheel transmission froiuthe pedalvshaft. The, steering is accomplished by means of a pinion at the lower end of a steering-rod, the pinion engaging a toothed segment at the end of a fulcrumed lever, theopposite end of which is connected by a pivot-rod with the swiveled frame of the steering-wheel, as will more fully appear `hereinafter.` i

In the accompanying drawings,V Figure 1 represents a side elevation withone of the driving-wheels removed, Fig. 2, a front elevation of my improved velocipede;` Fig. 3a vertical longitudinal section of the tubular telescopingframe-work and telescopiug driv ingshaft, drawn on a larger scale; and Fig. 4 is a detail top view of part of the driving# gear. 4

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A A' are short vertical side brackets or posts, thatare provided with central bearings for carrying the telescopingsections `C `D of the driving-shaft- The shaft-section C consists of a tubular portion, C', of `greater diameter, and of an end portion, C2, of smaller diameter, which `latter forms the spindle for one of the drivingwheels. The diameter of shaft-section D is madesomewhat smaller than the diameter of the tubular portionG' of shaft-section C, and is guidedinthe latter by a brass or other lining, E, that extends partly into tube C', as shown in'Fig. 3. The shaft-section D has, like the shaft-section@ a reduced outer por tion, D', that forms the spindle for the other driving-wheel. The central bearings of the side brackets, `A A', in whichthe drivingshaft (l D revolves, are preferably formed of a grooved collar, F, that is jdriven on the spindles CD' ,of antifriction balls ac, of steel or other lhard metal, placed into the groove of the collar F, and of two beveled steel rings, H H, which latter are retained Oneither side of the balls by means of a nut, l, that screws into the brackets `A A', asshow-n clearly in Fig. 3. In place `of the shaft-bearings described, any other approved construction may be used. i

To the upper and lower ends of the vertical brackets A A'are rigidly secured transverse telescoping tubesB B', which are drawn together or extended by the samemechanism by which the telescoping sections' of the driving-shaft C D are adjusted. This is accomplished by `a threaded rod, O,\that engages a xed'screw-nut, N, at the interior of the shaft-section D, said threaded rod O being provided `with a collar, P, that abuts on the reduced end or spindle Cl of shaft-section C, while" the plain shank O' of the screw-rod O passes through the spindle C2, and is secured at its outer end by a reversed screwthread and nut, Q, to the end of the spindle C2( flheshank O of the screw-rod O ismcX- tended beyond nut Q, and provided outside ofthe hubjof the driving-wheel with a square boss, Q', to which a key or spanner is applied. By turning the key or Spanner in one direction, the bracket A', the telescoping tubes B' B', and the telescoping shaft-section D are drawn toward the other bracket, A, into the exterior tubes, BB, and shaft-section, as shown in detail in Fig.' 3, while by the reverse motion of the screw-rod O the telescoping frame-work andshaft-sections are extended to their full width, as shown in Fig.. 2; B a few turns of the screw-rod O, the width of the velocipede is thus reduced to nearly one-half IOO 2 gsaoo mounted loosely on the shaft-section C, and

provided with a drum, K, one part of which is of larger diameter, soas to form a surface for the strap-brake that is commonly used in Ve locipedes. On the remaining portion of the drum K are arranged in bearings in diametrically-opposite points two pinions, L L', which mesh with bevel-wheels M M', of which the bevel-wheel Mis'keyed tothe inner end ofthe shaft-section C, while the bevel-wheel M' is splined to a longitudinal keyway of the shaftsection D. By means of the balance-gear, the velocipede is adapted to round curves with safety and facility, as the bevel-wheels M M' run at different speeds.

tion of the balance-gear shown, as other constructions may be used.

The lower tube, B, is provided at its inner end with tubular sockets X X, to which the downwardly-extending tubes S S' are secured. These carry at their lower parts the bearings for the axle of the pedals, and also the curved tub 3 S2, that extends forward to the yoke-shaped frame T' of the steering-wheel T. The steerl supporting-bracket A and steering handle-rod 5V, having a pinion,W, of fulcrumed lever U', .having a toothed segment, U, meshing with ing motion is imparted to the steering-wheel T by a vertical handle-rod, V, th at is supportedin bearings of the bracket A.` A pinion, W, is

' applied to the lower end of the handle-rod V,

said pinionengaging a toothed segment, U, at

' j the end of a lever, U', which latter is applied to a fulcrum secured to the lower tube, B, while the opposite end is pivoted to the connecting# rod R. This rod extends forward between the supporting-tubes S S', and is pivoted at its front end to a lateral arm.; B', of the forked frame T of the steering-wheel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By turning the steering-rod V in one or the other direction, the velocipede is steered with great facility, while no impediment is offered to mounting 011 dismounting,`

or to jumping off at either side of the velocipede in case of emergency, as the steering-rod is located between the tubes S S' and the legs x of the rider.

My improved velocipede is further provided .r Y

with the usual dirt-guard, Z, that extends over -the chain or band which connects the pulleys of the pedals and driving-shaft; also, with a safety-leg, Z', that extends backward and downwardly from the lower tube, B, and with a spring-seat and other accessories usually em ployed in velocipedes of this class. The telescoping frame-work as well as the central steering-gear may also be employed for sociable tricycles,77 as the entire framework is constructed with a view to lightness and strength, and as the mechanismfor driving and steering is located centrally and well out of the way. f

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a tricycle, the .combination of the supporting-brackets' A A', carrying transverse telescoping tubes B B and B B', telescoping shaft-sections C D, the interior shaft-section, 2D, of which has a fixed nut, N, and a screw-' 1 rod O O', engaging the nut N, adapted to extend or contract the telescoping frame-work and shaft-sections, substantially as set forth. I do not limit myself to the special constructubular telescoping shaft-sections and suitable 2. In a tricycle, the combination, with the fmotion-transmitting mechanism, of a central l balance-gear that engages by interior pinions j a bevel-wheel at the end of the outer shaft-section, and a bevel-wheel splined to the longitudinally-grooved inner shaft-section, so asto .f drive both shaft-sections from the central balance-gear, substantially as set forth.

3. Ina tricycle, the combination, with the i the pinion W, and connecting-rod R, pivoted f to the fulcrumed lever and extending between the supporting-tubes S S' to the frame of the steering-wheel T, substantially as specied.

4:. In a tricycle, atubular telescoping frame- Q work formed of brackets A A', telescoping l tubes B B and B' B', the lower tube, B, having downwardly and forwardly extending tubes S S', that form the pedal-support, substantially i as described.

In testimony that iI claim the foregoing as' my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH J. STASSEN.

Vitnesses:

A. Cinemex, l B. W. Dunn.

IOO 

